May 4, 2011

Today marks the beginning of my Alaska adventure. Its been a long adventure so far! Nah, I’m just kidding, its been great! Last night I went to the temple just to find some solace and hope in this decision to leave behind everything again and start over – at least for the summer. I know this is going to be a great experience. Heck if I can’ survive 18 months in NY, a week in Haiti and then another week in NY by myself, I think I can do this Alaska thing. It can’t be that scary. I think I’m mostly worried about the fact that it’s a completely new thing. I have never done anything like this before. I know it’s going to pan out and I’m going to make bank and have a amazing time, but like my dad said – it’s all about surviving the first few weeks. If I can’t do that I got this thing in the bag! It’s still freaking me out. With that said, let’s do this.

Today has been a long day of travel. After my trip to the temple last night I came home (after going to visit with the wonderful Sister Hodge) to pack and wash what I had worn but needed to still take with me. I mostly finished packing at about 12:30, but got up at 7:30 this morning just to make sure. I still had to go pick up my check from Rayboulds and go to Walmart all before I was supposed to be meeting dad at his office so he could drive me to airport at 11:30am. Needless to say, I was perfectly on time. No, I really was. I picked up my check, came home and finished getting ready. Packed up all my crap into the Escape and went to the bank to deposit said check. I hit Walmart and was out of that wretched place by 11:03. Now, driving in Rexburg is like trying to drive in a stampede of idiots. It doesn't work, so I got to dad’s office at 11:13. See I was on time. Just because I didn't get to his office until 11:20 doesn't mean anything. Anyway, dad drove me to the Idaho Falls airport where I got all checked in and then got to sit and wait.

My first flight – from Idaho Falls to Salt Lake City took off at 1:15pm. Then I got to wait in SLC for about an hour. I got some food and woofed it down just in time for them to start boarding. My second flight – from SLC to Seattle took off at 3pm. Now, I am waiting. I have been for the last 2 hours. We landed at about 3:55 Washington time (which is an hour behind Idaho) and my last flight – from Seattle to Juneau doesn’t take off until 8:05pm. Its slightly aggravating because all these blasted flights are 2 hours long or less and I still don’t get to Alaska until 9:36pm their time. That’s like 11:30 in Idaho. Holy long day of sitting around in strange airports! Its ok, I got to be in a plane that was literally chalked full of Asians. I had to text Hannah and ask her if there are a lot Asians in Washington and she confirmed my fear. There are. Evidence is that plane I just got off of. But I think they were good luck. One, we got drinks and peanuts. And two, we didn't die. Those lucky Asians! Thanks for flying with Delta!

In all my waiting, I have been able to go to Starbuck, watching 20 minutes of Easy A (highly recommend it, its freaking hilarious), and roam aimlessly through the airport looking desperately for a plug so that I didn't have to spend the next four hours staring at the wall. Look, I found one! YAY! Thank you plug, I was able to get my Facebook fix AND talk to Ryan and Chelsea. Great people! I will miss them! But I’m on to bigger and better things for the summer. I hope that Kerry remembers someone is supposed to be picking me up. I think that’s my biggest fear. I don’t want to be stranded in Alaska. At least I have clothes and money so I could get home if I needed to abandon ship! OOO, I could just take a ship! Brilliant! I will let you know if I get left at the airport or not! Well, I think that pretty much wraps up my day one of Operation: Own Alaska…. Yeah it needs some work. Any suggestions? Pray about it, I’m gonna go find that Wendy’s I keep seeing! I LOVE WENDY’S!!!!